Flexibility and Fitness Increasing Apparatus

ABSTRACT

A flexibility and fitness increasing apparatus allows the user to stretch various muscles as if they are assisted by a partner. The flexibility and fitness increasing apparatus includes at least one foot support, at least one fastening strap, and an anchor. The anchor is opposite the at least one foot support along the at least one fastening strap. The anchor is fixed to a support during the implementation of the flexibility and fitness increasing apparatus such that the user can stretch effectively, unaided, and in a controlled fashion. The at least one fastening strap is adjustably connected to the at least one foot support through a securing buckle of the at least one foot support such that the length between the anchor and the at least on foot support is variable. The user increases the tension on the at least one fastening strap to effectively stretch their muscles.

The current application claims a priority to the U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 61/940,621 filed on Feb. 17, 2014.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to flexibility and fitness improvement apparatuses. More specifically, the present invention is an exercise system that allows a user to improve overall health by improving lung function, circulation, and flexibility as well as reducing stomach size.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A sedentary lifestyle is one of the leading causes of heart disease, obesity, and a host of additional health-related conditions. A growing number of occupations require the use of computers for extended periods of time, resulting in an increasing number of people who find it difficult to remain physically active throughout the day in the workplace. Recent workplace studies have documented reduced motivation, productivity, and creativity when physical activity is minimized for extended periods of time. The problem is exacerbated due to the rapid development of digital content delivery (movies, television shows, and music) and video games that further contribute to a sedentary lifestyle. Long term inactivity can also contribute to limited future mobility and additional lifestyle issues. One of the most basic forms of physical exercise is stretching. Stretching involves flexing or stretching specific muscles, tendons, and muscle groups in order to increase elasticity and achieve a comfortable muscle tone. Stretches are generally very simple to perform and can offer a wide range of health benefits including increased muscle control, flexibility, and range of motion. As a result, stretches are often performed prior to physical activity in order to reduce the likelihood of injury as well as to increase performance. However, stretches may be performed on their own in order to increase overall health. Proper resistance and support when performing stretches can further aid in increasing overall health.

The present invention is an exercise system that improves user lung function, circulation, and flexibility. The exercise system also allows the user to reduce his or her stomach size. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the user is seated on an anchor portion of the present invention, where their weight provides increased resistance for the stretch performed. From the anchor, straps travel along the user's back, across the user's shoulders, and to a foot support on the heel, of the user. Along the straps, a pair of buckle allows the straps to be adjustable. The user can pull on an end of the straps to force their head and shoulders toward their feet stretching the hamstrings, calves, and core of the user. The straps allow the user to increase their range as if they have a partner to assist them with various stretches.

The object of the present invention is to provide users with a means of improving overall health through straightforward exercises. The exercise system of the present invention improves user lung function and oxygenation. The stretching exercise performed through the present invention allows the user to improve his or her circulation and flexibility as well. Additionally, the user is able to strengthen his or her abdominal core and reduce the size of his or her stomach. Finally, the exercise system improves the health of the user's spine.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a detailed view of the first cross strap and the second cross strap of the preferred embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the at least one foot support of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a detailed view of the mat of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a top view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention during implementation.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention during implementation.

FIG. 8 is a detailed view of the cross straps of the preferred embodiment during implementation.

FIG. 9 is an exemplary implementation of the alternate embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 further details the alternate embodiment of the present invention.

DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION

All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

The present invention is for a flexibility and fitness increasing apparatus to stretch various muscles. Stretching is well known for providing increased range of motion and flexibility, relaxing muscles and reducing the risk of injury during sporting activities. The present invention is designed to be used where the user is in a seated bent stretching position, focusing on stimulating core and leg muscles, as shown in FIG. 6 to FIG. 8; however, other stretching positions are conceivable using the preferred embodiment, as well as alternate embodiments. The present invention allows a user to mimic the benefits of stretching with a partner. The user is able to force his/her self to stretch a bit farther than possible unaided in a manner that is under their control to prevent overstretching.

As shown in FIG. 1, the present invention comprises at least one foot support 1, at least one fastening strap 2, and an anchor 3. The at least one foot support 1 receives a user's foot and provides a structure through which a force can be applied to the foot to facilitate an effective stretch. The at least one fastening strap 2 adjusts the tension between the at least one foot strap and the anchor 3. The tension within the at least one fastening strap 2 forces parts of the user's body further into the stretching pose. The anchor 3 fixes the present invention to a support which allows the user to use their own strength to put tension on the at least one fastening strap 2. The at least one foot support 1 comprises a securing buckle 9. The securing buckle 9 allows the at least one foot support 1 to be adjustable in position relative to the anchor 3 along the at least one fastening strap 2. The at least one fastening strap 2 comprises a first end 4 and a second end 5 for referencing along the at least one fastening strap 2. The at least one foot support 1 is slideably connected with the first end 4 at the at least one fastening strap 2 through the securing buckle 9, such that the length of the at least one fastening strap 2 from the anchor 3 to the at least one foot support 1 is adjustable. The anchor 3 is adjacently connected or engaged to the second end 5 of the at least one fastening strap 2. The anchor 3 is oppositely positioned from the at least one foot support 1 across the at least one fastening strap 2.

In accordance to FIG. 3, the at least one foot support 1 further comprises a heel receiving portion 6, an annular edge 7, and a pair of supporting straps 8. The heel receiving portion 6 allows the user to place the heel of their foot within the at least one foot support 1 and is flexible such that the at least one foot support 1 conforms around the user's foot. The annular edge 7 is perimetrically connected around the heel receiving portion 6. The pair of supporting straps 8 is adjacently connected to the annular edge 7 and offset from each other. The pair of supporting straps 8 is also connected to the securing buckle 9 opposite of the annular edge 7. More specifically, a distal end 21 for the pair of supporting straps 8 is adjacently connected to each other and the securing buckle 9, and a proximal end 22 for the pair of supporting straps 8 is adjacently connected to the annular edge 7. This configuration allows the user to pull on the at least one fastening strap 2 which puts the pair of supporting straps 8 in tension, applying a force to the bottom of the user's foot at the heel.

In accordance to the preferred embodiment, the present invention further comprises a first cross strap 10, a second cross strap 11, as shown in FIG. 2. The at least one foot support 1 comprises a left foot support 12 and a right foot support 13. The at least one fastening strap 2 comprises a left fastening strap 14 and a right fastening strap 15. The first cross strap 10 and the second cross strap 11 provide additional support for the user as well as tethering the first cross strap 10 to the second cross strap 11. The first end 4 of the left fastening strap 14 is slideably engaged with the securing buckle 9 of the left foot support 12. Similarly, the first end 4 of the right fastening strap 15 is slideably engaged with the securing buckle 9 of the right foot support 13. The first cross strap 10 is perpendicularly connected to the left fastening strap 14 and the right fastening strap 15. The second cross strap 11 being slideably mounted to the left fastening strap 14 and the right fastening strap 15, in such way that the second cross strap 11 is perpendicularly positioned with the left fastening strap 14 and the right fastening strap 15. The anchor 3 is connected to the second end 5 of the left fastening strap 14 and the second end 5 of the right fastening strap 15. The first cross strap 10 is positioned adjacent to the anchor 3 and the second cross strap 11 is positioned adjacent to the first cross strap 10 opposite of the anchor 3. This configuration allows the second cross strap 11 to be adjustable along the left fastening strap 14 and the right fastening strap 15 to such that the user can adjust the back support provided by the present invention to their preference, as show in FIG. 8.

Further in accordance to the preferred embodiment and FIG. 4, the anchor 3 is preferred to be a mat 16. The mat 16 allows the user to be seated on the present invention to provide pressure to keep the present invention and the user stationary during use. The preferred shape of the mat 16 is a rounded rectangle wherein the user is able to evenly distribute their weight across the mat 16; however, the shape of mat 16 may include but not be limited to a circle, an oval, a triangle, or similar shapes where the user can distribute their weight across to secure the present invention. To use the preferred embodiment, the user loosens the left fastening strap 14 and the right fastening strap 15 at the respective securing buckle 9 of the left foot support 12 and the right foot support 13. Then the user is seated in a bent position on the mat 16 providing pressure on the mat 16 to secure the mat 16 between the user and a horizontal support such as a floor or ground surface. The left fastening strap 14 and the right fastening strap 15 are placed over the user's shoulders and the user places his or her feet into the respective left foot support 12 and the right foot support 13. The user then pulls on the first end 4 of the left fastening strap 14 and the first end 4 of the right fastening strap 15 to facilitate stretching the legs, core, and lower back of the user. Once the stretching is complete, the user loosens the left fastening strap 14 and the right fastening strap 15 and removes his/her self from the present invention.

In accordance to FIG. 5, an alternate embodiment of the present invention is used to stretch a user's leg, groin, and core muscles. The present invention comprises a loop buckle 20. The loop buckle 20 allows at least one fastening strap 2 to be adjustable at the anchor 3. The anchor 3 comprises an anchor strap 23 as t. The anchor strap 23 is used to tether the anchor 3 to the at least one fastening strap 2. The at least foot support is a single foot support 17 and the at least one fastening strap 2 is a single fastening strap 18 within the alternative embodiment so that the alternative embodiment can be only used with either the left or right leg of the user. The anchor 3 is adjacently connected to the anchor strap 23. The loop buckle 20 is adjacently connected to the anchor strap 23 opposite of the anchor 3. The first end 4 of the single fastening strap 18 is slideably engaged with the securing buckle 9 of the single foot support 17. The second end 5 of the single fastening strap 18 being slideably engaged with the loop buckle 20. In this configuration the length of the single fastening strap 18 is adjustable at both the anchor 3 and the single foot support 17. In the alternate embodiment, the anchor 3 is preferred to be a hook 19. The anchor strap 23 is opposite a bite of the hook 19 along a shank of the hook 19.

In accordance to the alternate embodiment, the user first loosens the single fastening strap 18 at both the loop buckle 20 and the securing buckle 9 of the single foot support 17 without disengaging the single fastening strap 18 and leaving some slack in the first end 4. The user then secures the anchor 3 to a top of a door or other horizontal support above the user's head. Subsequently, the user places their heel in the single foot support 17 depending on which leg they desire to stretch, as detailed in FIG. 9. The user pulls on the second end 5 to raise their foot towards the anchor 3 stretching the leg, groin and core of the user, as shown in FIG. 10. The securing buckle 9 of the single foot support 17 and the loop buckle 20 lock the single fastening strap 18 unless otherwise acted on by the user. When the user pulls on either the securing buckle 9 or the loop buckle 20, the single fastening strap 18 is loosened from either the anchor 3 or the single foot support 17. When the user is finished stretching, the user loosens the single fastening strap 18 at the securing buckle 9 as they may not be able to reach the loop buckle 20 from the stretching position.

The at least one foot support 1 and the at least one fastening strap 2 are preferred to be made from a flexible woven fabric, including but not limited to nylon, cotton, or any other suitable material having a tensile strength which would not deform when tension is applied through the application of the present invention. The mat 16 is preferred to be made from a flexible material such as a PVC polymer, rubber, cloth, or any other durable material which will withstand abrasion and prevent erosion from friction. The flexibility of the present invention allows the user to roll up the present invention for ease of transport and carrying convenience. Further, rolling the present invention allows the flexibility and fitness increasing apparatus to be stored in limited space.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A flexibility and fitness increasing apparatus comprises: at least one foot support; at least one fastening strap; an anchor; the at least one foot support comprises a securing buckle; the at least one fastening strap comprises a first end and a second end; the at least one foot support being slideably connected with the first end of the at least one fastening strap through the securing buckle; the anchor being adjacently connected with the second end of the at least one fastening strap; and the anchor being oppositely positioned from the at least one foot support across the at least one fastening strap.
 2. The flexibility and fitness increasing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprises: the at least one foot support further comprises a heel receiving portion, an annular edge, and a pair of supporting straps; the annular edge being perimetrically connected around the heel receiving portion; the pair of supporting straps being adjacently connected to the annular edge; the pair of supporting straps being offset of each other; and the pair of supporting straps being connected to the securing buckle opposite of the annular edge.
 3. The flexibility and fitness increasing apparatus as claimed in claim 2 comprises: a distal end for the pair of supporting straps being adjacently connected to each other and the securing buckle; and a proximal end for the pair of supporting straps being adjacently connected to the annular edge.
 4. The flexibility and fitness increasing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprises: a first cross strap; a second cross strap; the at least one foot support comprises a left foot support and a right foot support; the at least one fastening strap comprises a left fastening strap and a right fastening strap; the first end of the left fastening strap being slideably engaged with the securing buckle of the left foot support; the first end of the right fastening strap being slideably engaged with the securing buckle of the right foot support; the first cross strap being perpendicularly connected to the left fastening strap and the right fastening strap; the second cross strap being slideably mounted to the left fastening strap and the right fastening strap; the second cross strap being perpendicularly positioned with the left fastening strap and the right fastening strap; and the anchor being connected to the second end of the left fastening strap and the second end of the right fastening strap.
 5. The flexibility and fitness increasing apparatus as claimed in claim 4 comprises: the first cross strap being adjacently positioned with the anchor; and the second cross strap being adjacently positioned with the first cross strap opposite of the anchor.
 6. The flexibility and fitness increasing apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the anchor is a mat.
 7. The flexibility and fitness increasing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprises: a loop buckle; the anchor comprises an anchor strap; the at least one foot support being a single foot support; the at least one fastening strap being a single fastening strap; the anchor being adjacently connected to the anchor strap; the loop buckle being adjacently connected to the anchor strap opposite of the anchor; the first end of the single fastening strap being slideably engaged with the securing buckle of the single foot support; and the second end of the single fastening strap being slideably engaged with the loop buckle.
 8. The flexibility and fitness increasing apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the anchor is a hook.
 9. A flexibility and fitness increasing apparatus comprises: at least one foot support; at least one fastening strap; an anchor; the at least one foot support comprises a securing buckle, a heel receiving portion, an annular edge, and a pair of supporting straps; the at least one fastening strap comprises a first end and a second end; the at least one foot support being adjacently connected with the first end of the at least one fastening strap through the securing buckle; the anchor being adjacently connected with the second end of the at least one fastening strap; the anchor being oppositely positioned from the at least one foot support across the at least one fastening strap; the annular edge being perimetrically connected around the heel receiving portion; the pair of supporting straps being adjacently connected to the annular edge; the pair of supporting straps being offset of each other; and the pair of supporting straps being connected to the securing buckle opposite of the annular edge.
 10. The flexibility and fitness increasing apparatus as claimed in claim 9 comprises: a distal end for the pair of supporting straps being adjacently connected to each other and the securing buckle; and a proximal end for the pair of supporting straps being adjacently connected to the annular edge.
 11. The flexibility and fitness increasing apparatus as claimed in claim 9 comprises: a first cross strap; a second cross strap; the at least one foot support further comprises a left foot support and a right foot support; the at least one fastening strap comprises a left fastening strap and a right fastening strap; the first end of the left fastening strap being slideably engaged with the securing buckle of the left foot support; the first end of the right fastening strap being slideably engaged with the securing buckle of the right foot support; the first cross strap being perpendicularly connected to the left fastening strap and the right fastening strap; the second cross strap being slideably mounted to the left fastening strap and the right fastening strap; the second cross strap being perpendicularly positioned with the left fastening strap and the right fastening strap; and the anchor being connected to the second end of the left fastening strap and the second end of the right fastening strap.
 12. The flexibility and fitness increasing apparatus as claimed in claim 11 comprises: the first cross strap being adjacently positioned with the anchor; and the second cross strap being adjacently positioned with the first cross strap opposite of the anchor.
 13. The flexibility and fitness increasing apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the anchor is a mat.
 14. The flexibility and fitness increasing apparatus as claimed in claim 9 comprises: a loop buckle; the anchor comprises an anchor strap; the at least one foot support being a single foot support; the at least one fastening strap being a single fastening strap; the anchor being adjacently connected to the anchor strap; the loop buckle being adjacently connected to the anchor strap opposite of the anchor; the first end of the single fastening strap being slideably engaged with the securing buckle of the single foot support; and the second end of the single fastening strap being slideably engaged with the loop buckle.
 15. The flexibility and fitness increasing apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the anchor is a hook.
 16. A flexibility and fitness increasing apparatus comprises: at least one foot support; at least one fastening strap; an anchor; the at least one foot support comprises a securing buckle, a heel receiving portion, an annular edge, and a pair of supporting straps; the at least one fastening strap comprises a first end and a second end; the at least one foot support being adjacently connected with the first end of the at least one fastening strap through the securing buckle; the anchor being adjacently connected with the second end of the at least one fastening strap; the anchor being oppositely positioned from the at least one foot support across the at least one fastening strap; the annular edge being perimetrically connected around the heel receiving portion; the pair of supporting straps being adjacently connected to the annular edge; the pair of supporting straps being offset of each other; the pair of supporting straps being connected to the securing buckle opposite of the annular edge; a distal end for the pair of supporting straps being adjacently connected to each other and the securing buckle; and a proximal end for the pair of supporting straps being adjacently connected to the annular edge.
 17. The flexibility and fitness increasing apparatus as claimed in claim 16 comprises: a first cross strap; a second cross strap; the at least one foot support further comprises a left foot support and a right foot support; the at least one fastening strap comprises a left fastening strap and a right fastening strap; the first end of the left fastening strap being slideably engaged with the securing buckle of the left foot support; the first end of the right fastening strap being slideably engaged with the securing buckle of the right foot support; the first cross strap being perpendicularly connected to the left fastening strap and the right fastening strap; the second cross strap being slideably mounted to the left fastening strap and the right fastening strap; the second cross strap being perpendicularly positioned with the left fastening strap and the right fastening strap; the anchor being connected to the second end of the left fastening strap and the second end of the right fastening strap; the first cross strap being adjacently positioned with the anchor; and the second cross strap being adjacently positioned with the first cross strap opposite of the anchor.
 18. The flexibility and fitness increasing apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the anchor is a mat.
 19. The flexibility and fitness increasing apparatus as claimed in claim 16 comprises: a loop buckle; the anchor comprises an anchor strap; the at least one foot support being a single foot support; the at least one fastening strap being a single fastening strap; the anchor being adjacently connected to the anchor strap; the loop buckle being adjacently connected to the anchor strap opposite of the anchor; the first end of the single fastening strap being slideably engaged with the securing buckle of the single foot support; and the second end of the single fastening strap being slideably engaged with the loop buckle.
 20. The flexibility and fitness increasing apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein the anchor is a hook. 